"Born in barracks" in 1965, his father was a warrant officer in the Royal Ulster Rifles. The family settled in Portadown when he was 10 following the cessation of his father"s regular service but saw Beattie Snr enlist into the Ulster Defence Regiment shortly after.
At the age of 16 in 1982 he joined the Royal Irish Rangers which became the Royal Irish Regiment in 1992, and in over 28 years of service rose from the rank of "Ranger" to that of Regimental sergeant major before being commissioned and gaining promotion to captain. After retiring from the army he joined the Ulster Unionist Party and successfully stood for a seat in a Portadown ward of Craigavon Borough Council. As the son of a professional soldier not only was Doug Beattie "born in barracks" but moved from area to area as his father"s unit was posted to different locations.
Eventually, upon retirement from the army by Beattie Snr, the family returned to their native Portadown, County Armagh, in Northern Ireland.
Moving into a house in Union Street, situated in the densely populated Edgarstown area on the outskirts of the town centre. At the age of 15 he accidentally shot a friend when the two of them discovered Beattie Snr"s personal protection weapon and were playing with lieutenant
Although shot in the head his friend recovered. Shortly after the incident with the handgun Doug Beattie joined the Royal Irish Rangers and following training was posted to the 2nd Battalion who were stationed in Wavell Barracks, Berlin.
Bravery As part of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team Captain Beattie was part of an operation intended to retake the town of Garmsir in Helmand Province.
Captain Beattie joined the Ulster Unionist Party and successfully stood for a ward in the Portadown area during the 2014 council elections.
The merger of councils in Northern Ireland now means he is a member of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council.
